Lavrov: Trump Stance on Iran Nuclear Deal “Extremely Worrying”

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov described US President Donald Trump’s stance on Iran nuclear deal as “extremely worrying”, stressing that Moscow would defend the landmark agreement.

In his maiden speech at the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, Trump said the deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), was “an embarrassment” to Washington.

“It’s extremely worrying,” said Lavrov, whose country is a signatory to the deal besides the US, the UK, France, China and Germany.

“We will defend this document, this consensus, which was met with relief by the entire international community and genuinely strengthened both regional and international security.”

In his speech, the Republican president described the agreement as “the worst and most one-sided transaction the US has ever entered into,” a characterization he often used during his presidential campaign.

He told reporters on Wednesday that he had made his decision about staying in the agreement but declined to reveal it.

Tehran rebuked Trump’s rhetoric, with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif describing it as an “ignorant hate speech” that was “unworthy of a reply.”

French President Emmanuel Macron and EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini also reiterated their commitment to the nuclear agreement.